Page:Resolutions and Decisions of the Third Congress of the Red International of Labor Unions (1924).pdf/29

 '''5. Organization of the Unemployed.'''

Under the capitalist system there always exists and always will exist a tremendous reserve army of labor in the umemployed. These unemployed are in danger of losing contact with the labor movement, as the crisis in the capitalist countries is a permanent phenomenon, and unemployment becomes of a lasting character. The capitalists and their armed agents, the Fascists, have recruited adherents and strike breakers from among the unemployed. Driven by hunger, the unemployed may become weapons in the hands of any capitalist machinations against the working class. It is necessary that the employed workers render their unemployed comrades material aid, and maintain permanent connections with them, especially during serious disputes with capital.

The revolutionary unions and minorities should give special attention to the unemployed union members and should conduct educational activities among them in order to raise their class consciousness. The unions should utilize their unemployed members in the organization of the union work.

Everything possible should be done to mitigage unemployment by the establishment of fixed benefits for the unemployed, at the expense of the capitalists and of the State, to be issued under the control of shop committees and trade unions. The benefits should be equal to the regular wage which the unemployed recived when he worked. The revolutionary organizations and minorities should fight for the principle employment to all the unemployed accompanied by a shortening of the work day.

6. Co-ordination of the Work of the Revolutionary Unions with that of all Class Organizations Serving the Workers in any Particular Field.

Among these organizations are the workers' co-operatives, the International Workers' Relief, the Red Sport organizations, the organizations of the poor farmers, and of the semi-proletarianized petty bourgeoisie. The co-operatives and the International Workers' Relief should play a prominent part in aiding workers on strike and locked out. As regards the International Red Aid, it should do its utmost to alleviate the situation of our fighters imprisoned by the international bourgeoisie. The revolutionary unions should maintain. connections with the Farmers' International, the sport organizations, and the various organizations of consumers, tenants and taxpayers, and should utilize them in their offensive upon the bourgeoisie and its henchmen.

7. Joint Work of the Revolutionary Unions and Communist Parties.

Our life and death enemies—the capitalists—-have class organizations working hand in hand in the economic and political fields. The same applies to the reformists. In order that our struggle may be successful, we must closely and openly link up with the Communist Party, the vanguard of the Revolution. The revolutionary unions should carry on their activities together with the Communist Party. Where the revolutionary movement has been suppressed and there is no legal possibility for union work, underground nuclei should be formed to take place of the legal revolutionary unions in case the latter are temporarily shattered by the armed bands of the bourgeoisie.